Automated calling system with database updating

Claim 1

An automated phone calling system for placing outgoing phone calls, comprising: a first database comprising a plurality of phone numbers and one or more data fields associated with each of the plurality of phone numbers; means for selecting a subset of phone numbers from the plurality of phone numbers of the first database based on the selection of at least one zip code stored in a zip code data fields, wherein the at least one zip code is associated with at least one of the plurality of phone numbers; means for recording a voice message to be transmitted over at least one outgoing phone line; means for connecting to at least one outgoing phone line, the connection means operatively connected to the voice recording means; means for initiating at least one phone call to a callee via a callee phone number over the at least one outgoing phone line with the callee's phone number being one of the subset of phone numbers stored in the first database as selected by the selecting means; means for prompting the callee by playing the voice message recorded with the voice recording means, after the outgoing phone call connection has been established, to enter a new zip code; means for recording the new zip code entered by a callee; and means for automatically updating the zip code data field associated with the callee's phone number based on the entered new zip code, the updated zip code data field used by the selecting means for selecting a future subset of phone numbers.

Claim 18

A method for automatically placing outgoing phone calls, comprising the steps of: a. creating a call list of a plurality of phone numbers with the same telephone area code and exchange numbers; b. for each of the plurality of phone numbers in the call list, placing an initial call to the phone numbers over at least one outgoing phone line; c. monitoring the at least one outgoing phone line for an answer by a callee to the initial call; d. playing a first prerecorded message upon receipt of an answer, the first prerecorded message including a prompt for the callee to enter a zip code response; e. recording the zip code response entered by a callee; and f. automatically updating information in a first database to include the callee's phone number and zip code response.

Claim 19

A method for automatically placing outgoing phone calls, comprising the steps of: a. creating a call list of a plurality of phone numbers with the same telephone area code and exchange numbers; b. for each of the plurality of phone numbers in the call list, placing an initial call to the phone numbers over at least one outgoing phone line; c. monitoring the at least one outgoing phone line for an answer by a callee to the initial call; d. playing a first prerecorded message upon receipt of an answer, the first prerecorded message including a prompt for the callee to enter a zip code response; e. recording the zip code response entered by a callee; and f. automatically updating information in a first database to include the callee's phone number and zip code response.